The biggest Christmas tree in Europe, once again, in Lisbon :)
With this late night walk yesterday, today my throat complains! Sore throat, soaked in bed, trying to recover the best for tomorrow... 400km on the road to face, tomorrow morning we're going back home ;)

I hope your Christmas Eve was very warm and full of gifts :) Here we have stormy weather: cold, too much rain and strong winds.. perfect to stay home with family :) Speaking of family ... since I arrived in Lisbon I had no time on my computer! I wanted to leave messages on your blogs, Christmas wishes, I was only able to leave some quick words on twitter and flickr =/ Sorry ... My 4 years old goddaughter, consumes all my time and attention! :p I couldn't turn on the computer because Carol always wants to play... It was for a good cause, right? heheheh I hope you forgive me =)
It seems to me that things on the web are also very calm... I believe that everyone is involved in the holiday spirit with family, isn't it? I thought I would have several messages in the previous post for the giveaway but few people joined... people didn't like it or was just a consequence of the holiday season?
I hope it's the second reason! :p

Lets go to the Giveaway! :D
I used the random.org and the winner was Ei! Kumpel :)
My little Santa will be travelling to Margarida's home! No need for anyone to be sad, I promise I'll offer enough giveaways during the next year! ;)

For the next post, I'll try to show you pictures of my city, if the rain stops! We expect better weather tomorrow so I want to take photos in downtown Lisbon, see the Christmas lights and the biggest Christmas tree in Europe ;)

I finally finished my Santa ornament! The delay was because the black wool, for the shoes, was out of stock in local stores so I had to order online!
I got the wool, felted the shoes and... I like the original white more! lol! When I asked for suggestions, the idea with the black seemed good but int the end... I can say I prefer the white! I don't know why... I guess the white pompoms look cute! hehehehe
I wish I could send a handmade gift to all my friends but time is too short! How about a giveaway to warm your heart a little? :) It won't be a present for all but a chance to receive this Santa ornament stitched by me for your home =) Would you like it? :)
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment here in this post until midnight (GMT), from 24 to 25, the same hour that Santa begins delivering gifts ;)
Tomorrow we are going to Lisbon, spend a week in my hometown :) But I won't go away, I'll be online, I'll post more here and I'm still going to your blog and wish you a Merry Christmas ;)
Now I have to pack Santa's bag! LOL! Many presents to carry and no reindeer to help hhahahaha :D

One more baby set, now the blue version for a baby boy :)
What do you think? So cute as the pink one? =)
It seems that Gustavo is the last newborn baby in 2009! Or...
... is there anyone pregnant out there? :D Lol!
I love cross stitching for babies, it's all so sweet, so cute =) But this year I made so many gifts! I intend to cross stitch much more in 2010 but this time.. well I hope all will stay here at home ;) eheheheh A newborn, right here? Maybe! Who knows! Even my mother already says 'it's time' :D hahahaha

Bottle Apron Tutorial
A friend asked me about the bottle aprons I made so I decided to post small tutorial to share with everyone. Hope you enjoy :)

You'll need: fabric 15x20cm and bias 150cm.
Click on the image template to donwload it ;)
Two easy steps: Sew the bias at the top and bottom, simply cut as the template ;) The remaining bias is used around the largest part of the apron, leaving a free section on the top and it's so simple as this :)
My piece isn't yet finished, I'll stitch it after I finish all the Christmas gifts! However, I wanted to publish these for those who still have the opportunity to make one. It's worth, it looks very pretty decorating our table at Christmas ;)
If you want to cross stitch it before sewing, you can even use fabric or felt on the back of the apron :)

Another idea from Cross Stitcher Magazine, which I love =)
And once again a difficult button! lol! :D For those who haven't been following my posts, these buttons suggested in Cross Stitcher magazine are hard to find, I can only get them by shopping online and international (which didn't give me time to get delivery in time for Christmas, it was a lesson to the next year! heheheh) But I managed to complete it successfully, my little star button it's not the same but it works perfectly :)
I love this little fairy =) The minute I saw it in the CS I said "I have to make this!". Just one of those cute graphics impossible to resist!
I have many things to show you in the next days :) I'm also thinking of doing a giveaway here but.. I don't know yet 'what' or 'how' I'll do it... be aware ;)

The Sunday here is beautiful, a beautiful sunny day although very cold :p
I have some photos to show you, my latest cross stitch work. Another gift, this time for a baby, a newborn girl =)
Three pieces set, cross stitched in baby pink for baby Barbara =)
And done and gift wrapped under the Christmas tree :)
No doubt that 2009 was the year of babies, many bibs I stitched this year and there is still one more set! Next week comes the blue version ;)
Now I going to run and enjoy the beautiful day that is out there :D
Good Sunday to all!

My blog is in a very slow rhythm, isn't it? Consequence of the Christmas season! :p You know how it goes: many things to prepare, handmade gifts to make and even the cold! The cold doesn't help heheheheh Winter and I... we don't have the best relationship! LOL!
My cross stitch keeps on going :) I'm between wips, trying to take the most of the time! I'm waiting to receive supplies to finish some pieces, while waiting, I go ahead with others ;)
Meanwhile, I can show you some secrets hidden in my Christmas tree, lets keep our voice down so no one will hear us ;) hahaahaa
I'm one of those people that appreciates handmade gifts, I think there is nothing more special and unique than something done by us, dedicated to the person who receives it =) But it's not always easy to get an original idea from year to year :p Instead of giving handmade, we can also be original and encourage others to create, right? ;) I found a fantastic gift for friends who like crafting, especially for the time of the year...
... The Book of Christmas :D
Isn't it great?? Take a look to the inside pictures:
Filled with ideas, tips, instructions on how to make, recipes for various crafts accessible to anyone :) Tips for decorating the house and the table :) Recipes for cookies and other delicacies of the season :) Always highlighting environmentally friendly materials and focusing on recycling other :)
Well, I hope the person who will receive this book for Christmas, will like it as much as I do! :D

My first christmas ornament! :D
After my initial hesitation with this fabric (wider than usual) I looked at it so much that I already got used to it! lol! Now I really like my embroidery :) But I still think that this evenweave is not much of 'my friend' hahahaha It is difficult to sew because it is less structered, I had to come up (again) with creative ideas to reach the final piece that idealized ;) I couldn't stitch it so.. glue!
I wanted it to look pretty but also resistant... 2 days experiencing in my Christmas tree and passed the test: it didn't fall, it didn't dismantled! :p LOL!
In the end, it was a little larger than what I had in my mind but I think it's cute ... really-really cute! =) I loved to see it in my tree but it's not staying here, this will decorate another house ;) Once I'll have the chance (time!) I'll make half a dozen for me! Definitely! :D
For now, I have more handmade gifts to complete, it's priority :)
Some I can show here, those who will be for friends or family who don't read my blog hehehe We have to keep the surprise ;)
One of the finalized gifts, slippers for a fan of ladybugs of course! :) For a special detail, I added the funny eyes hehehe
More to come in the next post ;)

After almost 11 months hibernating, it's time for my cute reindeers leap out of the box and jump through the house! :D
Because it's the day to make the Christmas tree, spread sweet angels, reindeers, snowmen and gingerbreads! :) Day to write postcards to my friends and family overseas! Day to wrap gifts for kids and grown ups! For those who don't know me well yet, prepare yourself for the next few weeks... you'll see a complete kid here! lol!
Red and white decoration from last year remains :) Missing one thing! Yesterday, I forgot to buy the chocolates to hang on the tree! :p Chocolate figures to decorate the tree and to eat on 6 January, the Epiphany's Day :)
New this year: finally found a perfect idea to my tree top! In the last 3 years I didn't put anything because I hadn't found that-piece-I-loved! I wanted something original, cute, matching the colors of the other decorations, something different... Voilá! Isn't my angel topper lovely?? =) A cute red and white angel with a ginger on her hand ... more-than-perfect! Rui also likes it, so, this angel, is officially adopted as our christmas tree topper :D
Next post I'll show you pictures of what I made in this 4-days-weekend! ;)